Mirren eyes Russian roots

Thesp marks 'Calendar' preem

British actress Helen Mirren headlined the April 8 opening of the Fifth New British Film Festival in Russia at Moscow’s KinoCenter. Mirren came to Russia with her husband, Taylor Hackford (helmer of “An Officer and a Gentleman”), not only to present the Russian premiere of “Calendar Girls” but also to look into her Russian roots — the British thesp is one-quarter Russian by birth.

Along with her were British ambassador to Russia Roderic Lyne and local film mag publisher Ada Semenova.